Where To Stay On Mackinac Island?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  • Bicycle Street Inn & Waterfront Collection.
  • The Chippewa Hotel.
  • The Grand Hotel.
  • The Inn at Stonecliffe.
  • The Inn on Mackinac.
  • Island House Hotel.
  • Lake View Hotel.
  • Lilac Tree Suites and Spa.

Is it better to stay in Mackinaw City or Mackinac Island?


Definitely stay on the Island

. Except for a water park and misc. shops and fast food places, there isn’t much to Mackinaw City except hotels and ferries to the Island.

Is it worth staying on Mackinac Island?

As it turns out,

yes—there are more than enough sites and activities to enjoy Mackinac Island for days upon end

. Mackinac Island, however, is also a great place to spend a long weekend or—if you’re already in the area—a one-day outing!

How many days do you need for Mackinac Island?

If you want to see it all: You will need

a full day to explore the perimeter and downtown area

. If you want to bike the interior of the island, go kayaking, visit the museums, fort and anything else, you will need three days.

How do you get around Mackinaw City?

  1. One way to get around Mackinac Island is by Taxi, Of Course! …
  2. Taxi service is available November through April by appointment.
  3. Request a Taxi by calling 906-847-3323.
  4. Rent a bike-renting a bike is a great way to see the entire island and get some exercise as well!

What is the closest town to Mackinac Island?

  • Fort Mackinac, MI.
  • Fort Holmes, MI.
  • British Landing, MI.
  • Saint Ignace, MI.
  • Evergreen Shores, MI.
  • Mackinaw City, MI.
  • Edgewater Beach, MI.
  • Freedom, MI.

What is the best time of year to visit Mackinac Island?

The best weather on Mackinac takes place in

Late Spring/Early summer, as well as the fall

. Late spring and early summer mark the beginning of the tourist season. The weather is phenomenal between mid-May and early July. Once it gets to late September, Mackinac Island is a wonderful place to be.

How long does it take to walk Mackinac Island?

GENERAL INFORMATION ON GOING AROUND MACKINAC ISLAND

If you decide to make your way around the coast of Mackinac Island, walking will take approximately

2.5-4 hours

without stopping. You can also bring your own bicycle or rent one from one of the many bicycle shops located on Mackinac Island.

Are there any beaches on Mackinac Island?

But you should know that the shores around Mackinac Island are rocky, so be sure to pack some water shoes if you want to take a dip in the Great Lakes.

The beach at British Landing near the northern tip of Mackinac Island is a popular spot for wading, as are several other points along M-185 as it circles the island

.

How long is the ferry ride to Mackinac Island?

How long is the ferry ride to Mackinac Island?

16-26 minutes

. Direct departures are typically 16 minutes from both Mackinaw City and St. Ignace.

How long is the drive from Traverse City to Mackinac Island?

How long does it take to get from Traverse City to Mackinac Island? It takes approximately

3h 37m

to get from Traverse City to Mackinac Island, including transfers.

What is so special about Mackinac Island?

History – Not only does Mackinac sound like a place out of the past,

it is home to historic Fort Mackinac

. The British built the Colonial-era fort on the island’s bluffs high above the Straits of Mackinac. It was a pivotal point of control in the Great Lakes fur trade of the 18

th

and early 19

th

centuries.

How much is the carriage ride on Mackinac Island?

Sightseeing Tour Available Early May – Late October, 2022 Prices include Carriage Tour only.
Adults & Senior Guests


$36.00

Child (5-12 YRS.)

No charge for children age 4 years and under if held on a lap. Reservations are NOT accepted for the regular public tour. $15.00
Tour time: 1 hr 45 mins (approximately)

What months is Mackinac Island Open?

When is the Island open? Mackinac Island is always “open” but the main thrust of our season is from

May through October

. During the month of May, horses arrive and businesses begin opening. By Memorial Day, the Island is in full swing.

What is the best way to get to Mackinac Island?

You can

drive to the Mackinac Island ferry docks and park your vehicle or fly into one of northern Michigan’s airports – PLN or CIU – and catch a shuttle to the docks

. Two ferry companies service Mackinac Island with rides that take 16 to 18 minutes and bring you right into the heart of town.

What is not allowed on Mackinac Island?

Since 1901,

cars have been banned in Mackinac Island State Park

. There are numerous accounts of early automobiles causing problems with horses and carriages. The ban was incorporated into state law in 1960. There are few exceptions to the use of motor vehicles regulation, the biggest of which is emergency vehicles.

Can you Rollerblade on Mackinac Island?


Roller skates and roller blades are allowed on Mackinac Island, except in the downtown area

. Bicycles, roller skates/roller blades, carriages, and saddle horses are available for rent.

Do cell phones work on Mackinac Island?

Mackinac Island’s Top-Ranked Cheap Cell Phone Carrier


US Mobile’s Super LTE service runs over Verizon’s network and is expected to offer solid performance in Mackinac Island

. US Mobile offers a wide variety of plans. Most plans come with unlimited minutes and texts, and some plans include unlimited data.

Does Mackinac Island have a bridge?

Also know as the “Big Mac” or the “Mighty Mac”, the bridge stretches 8,614 feet making it the fourth longest suspension bridge in the world. With a total span of approximately 5 miles, the

Mackinac Bridge

connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan uniting the communities of Mackinaw City and St.

How do I get from Grand Rapids to Mackinac Island?

There is no direct connection from Grand Rapids Airport (GRR) to Mackinac Island. However, you can fly to Pellston, take the taxi to Pellston, MI, take the Amtrak Thruway operated by Indian Trails to Mackinaw City, MI, take the walk to Mackinaw, then take the ferry to Mackinac Island.

What airport is close to Mackinac Island?

The nearest airport to Mackinac Island is

Pellston (PLN) Airport

which is 21.1 miles away. Other nearby airports include Sault Ste Marie (CIU) (29.2 miles), Sault Ste Marie (YAM) (44.5 miles) and Traverse City (TVC) (90 miles).

Is it cheaper to stay in St. Ignace or Mackinaw City?


Ignace is cheaper

, it doesn’t have the night life and restaurants that Mackinaw City does. We’re pretty leisurely on our Mack Island vacations.

What is the difference between Mackinaw and Mackinac?

The founders of Mackinaw City opted for the phonetic “aw” spelling, probably as a way to distinguish their town from Mackinac Island for confused postal carriers. Today

Mackinaw City retains the “aw” spelling while the bridge, straits and island steadfastly cling to the “ac” spelling

.

How cold does it get on Mackinac Island?

At Mackinac Island Airport, the summers are comfortable and partly cloudy and the winters are freezing, snowy, windy, and mostly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 12°F to 76°F and is

rarely below -5°F

or above 84°F.

Can you walk to everything on Mackinac Island?

Hike up to Fort Holmes, the highest point on the Island, walk through the hustle and bustle of downtown or seek out a solitary place to soak in the natural beauty.

Each and every extraordinary attraction on Mackinac Island is within walking distance

.

Do the Straits of Mackinac freeze?


The straits are shallow and narrow enough to freeze over in the winter

. Navigation is ensured for year-round shipping to the Lower Great Lakes by the use of icebreakers.

Can you walk around the entire Mackinac Island?


The eight-mile walk around the island

will offer gorgeous views of the water, surrounding islands, the Mackinac Bridge, and offers a number of stops along the walk describing historic events or people of the Island’s influence.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.